Using some SmartArt layouts, you can add as many extra shapes as you want. Other layouts contain a fixed number of shapes. For example, the Counterbalance Arrows layout in the Relationship type is designed to represent only two opposing ideas or concepts, and so only two of the shapes can contain text.

If you want to convey more than two ideas, switch to a layout that has more than two shapes available for text — such as the Pyramid List layout. Keep in mind that changing layouts or types for SmartArt graphics can alter the apparent meaning of your information. For example, a layout that shows arrows all pointing to the right, such as Basic Process in the Process type, has a different meaning from that of one that shows an arrow arranged in a circle, such as Continuous Cycle in the Cycle type.

You can both add and delete shapes in most SmartArt graphics, and you can also change the positions of the various shapes, so you should choose a layout that provides the best visual representation of your data.